51st Division May 1940 to St Valery to Oflag Laufen and then 5 years of incarceration

Discussion in '1940' started by Tallkatee, Feb 27, 2012.

  1. Tallkatee

    Tallkatee Junior Member

    Hello - am new to all this so hope am posting properly and within the rules...!

    Am helping someone write their memoirs for his grandchildren and the idea is growing into wider research into what we hope will be a book about his personal experiences

    It will cover the fighting withdrawal to St Valery (I have seen the other thread on here too...)... then the separation from his men at surrender ... the month long march... Oflag Laufen and beyond

    He was an officer with 1st Blackwatch, 154th Brigade.

    Its a very long shot to see if anyone else has information that would help up build up the background/prompt his memory with other diaries. We are very interested in any more detail that can be shed on the following events (which are generated by his own diary)

    Travelling by train (in chaos) 20th-21st May 1940 from Maginot line via Rouen towards Neufchatel

    Diverted to River Bresle 27th May: transport by Paris Bus

    31st May 1940: Attack on the Grand Bois de Cambron. The loss of one of his men, Private Alexander Scott (all we know is that Private Scott was married to a Grace Mair Scott and that he was born in Perth.. no more)

    4th June: big German attack at new position - (1st Blackwatch supported by the 1st Gordons here)

    withdrawing 5th June-11th June towards St Valery en Caux

    6th June 'B echelon bombed and padre and others killed' as they withdrew through a village after the artillery had already been withdrawn hours earlier

    His sergeant and his mentor: Bernard Shazell (wounded 11th June - died in hospital 15th June)

    they were captured/told to surrender 'outside' St Valery - never having got in...

    Being separated from his men was one of the hardest things of the whole war experience - He being so young (20) and they being experienced, much older... apparently most of them Fife Miners (reservists)

    Month March to Bavaria/Austrian border to Oflag Laufen

    I am going to start another thread about diversion and escape plans at Laufen and beyond.... because it seems quite different from the fighting withdrawal info

    Anymore detail for perspective on any of the events or people mentioned, gratefully welcomed.

    (Have read Saul David's Book, and Escape from Saint V-en-C by Andrew Bradford and countless POW books
    going to Kew for more diaries
    have met several descendants of 51st Div POWs who have been very very helpful indeed)

    thanks in advance for any other help we can get Kate
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Kate-Can you share his name?
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    What unit war diaries have you read to do with 51 Div?

    I think I now have all of the Divisions war diaries (Infantry, Artillery and Engineers) upto brigade level. But there are a few more worth considering-The battalion 'Missing Men' files in WO 361 and there are some private diaries that I have copies of.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I got a fantastic book (at first glimpse) today that should be right up your street called Escape from Saint Valery-en-Caux-The Adventures of Captain B C Bradford by Andrew Bradford (his son).

    He appears to be a man after my own heary by including no less than 24 maps in the book!

    bradford - escape from saint valery - AbeBooks

    I think I may do a brief thread on this chap (citations E and E Report etc)
     

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